A gripper base is provided, including a housing, a movable member, an elastic member, a position restricting mechanism, a guiding rod, and an engaging member. The elastic member is connected to the housing and the movable member. The position restricting mechanism is disposed on the movable member, and includes a groove and a block, wherein the groove surrounds the block. The groove has a top surface, and the block has an upper surface facing the top surface. The top surface has a protrusion protruding toward the block, and the upper surface has a concave structure. One end of the guiding rod is pivotally connected to the housing, and the other end of the guiding rod enters the groove. The engaging member is pivotally connected to the movable member.

A compliance mechanism for a pick and place robotic system comprising: a motion device, an end effector coupled to the motion device, wherein the end effector comprises a sheath structure, a rod, wherein the compliance mechanism is configured to: when the distal end of the rod is in not contact with an object, causing the distal end of the rod to move responsive to movement of the motion device, and when the distal end of the rod is in contact with an object and the motion device moves toward the object, causing the distal end of the rod to remain stationary by causing the sheath structure to move along a longitudinal direction of the rod.

A robotic transport system including a drive section connected to a frame, an articulated arm operably coupled to the drive section providing the articulated arm with arm motion in at least one axis of motion moving at least a portion of the articulated arm in a collaborative space, corresponding to the frame, from a first location to another different location in the collaborative space, the articulated arm having an end effector with a workpiece grip having workpiece engagement members engaging and holding a workpiece during workpiece transport, by the arm motion in the at least one axis of motion, wherein at least one of the workpiece engagement members is frangible compliant, having a frangible compliant coupling between a distal portion of the at least one of the workpiece engagement members and a base portion of the end effector from which the at least one of the workpiece engagement members depends.

Devices, systems, and methods for automatically exchanging a first end-effector on a robot arm with a second end-effector housed in a docking station. The first end-effector has a clamp that either engages or disengages the robot arm based upon an application of force of the robot arm onto the end-effector. The clamp has a spring loaded clip that disengages the first end-effector to allow the robot arm to move away from the released first end-effector. The robot arm is configured to automatically move to a port of a docking station housing the desired second end-effector using magnetic coils on the robot arm and the docking station to guide the robot arm.

Modular, propelled cable-driven robotic platform systems and methods of operation are disclosed. The system includes a robotic platform suspended by a system of overhead cables, motorized cable reels and pulleys. The robotic platform is configured to be equipped with tool modules for performing respective tasks. Additionally, the tool modules each have a multirotor propulsion system. A master control computer coordinates operation of the motorized cable and propulsion systems as a function of sensor data captured by navigation sensors on-board the platform so as to maneuver the robotic platform inside an industrial plant. The system is configured to maneuver around pipings and avoid obstacles in the plant in order to maximize the effective workspace that the robotic platform can reach to perform operations including inspection or repair.

Provided is a device, comprising: a barrier configured to impeded or prevent particles shed by a robot in a first volume of space from entering a second volume of space in which the robot manipulates a workpiece; and a robot having three or more degrees of freedom, the robot comprising: a first portion disposed on a first side of the barrier in the first volume, the first portion comprising an actuator of the robot, the actuator being configured to drive movement of the robot to manipulate the workpiece; and a second portion disposed on a second side of the barrier in the second volume, the second portion comprising an end-effector of the robot by which the robot makes contact with the workpiece.

A storage system configured to house a plurality of containers housing inventory items includes support members, a first set of parallel rails to support a mobile, manipulator robot, and a fluid supply line having a plurality of valves disposed within the fluid supply line. Each of the valves having a closed condition in which the supply line is in fluid isolation from an outside environment and an open condition in which the supply line is in fluid communication with the environment such that the supply line is configured to supply fluid to a mobile, manipulator robot. Mobile, manipulator robots for retrieving inventory items stored within the containers and retrieval methods are also disclosed herein.

A storage system configured to house a plurality of containers housing inventory items includes support members, a first set of parallel rails to support a mobile, manipulator robot, and a fluid supply line having a plurality of valves disposed within the fluid supply line. Each of the valves having a closed condition in which the supply line is in fluid isolation from an outside environment and an open condition in which the supply line is in fluid communication with the environment such that the supply line is configured to supply fluid to a mobile, manipulator robot. Mobile, manipulator robots for retrieving inventory items stored within the containers and retrieval methods are also disclosed herein.

A robotic system includes a robotic arm, a robotic end-effector detachably coupled to the robotic arm, and a control system. The robotic end-effector includes a locomotion device to move the robotic end-effector independent of the robotic arm, and the control system configured to control the robotic arm and the robotic end-effector to detach and attach the robotic arm and the robotic end-effector.

A gripping head for a handler in a sorting machine and an operating method thereof is disclosed. The gripping head includes: a support frame; a gripping tool having a socket for a control line and a first retainer; a revolver-shaped carrier on the support frame having a first releasable engagement unit coupled with the corresponding first retainer, the gripping tools furthermore having a second retainer; and a transfer platform equipped with second releasable engagement unit coupled with the second retainer. The transfer platform moves on the support frame between: a home position wherein the first retainers are engaged with the first releasable engagement unit of the carrier; an attachment position wherein the second releasable engagement units are coupled with the second retainer; and an operating position wherein the first retainers are uncoupled from the first releasable engagement units and the selected gripping tool is spaced away from the carrier.